Door-locking mechanism



Dec- 3, 1929- w. F. CREMEAN DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 29,'1927 Z-Sheets-Sheet 1 www f f 7M; Mamme?" RMN NJN K @u NM Dec. 3, 1929. w. F. cREMl-:AN

DOOR LOCKING MEGHANISM Filed Dec. 29, l192'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fww Patented Dec. 3, 1929.

PATENT Yo1-"FICE WILLIAM F. CREMEAN, OF TOLEDO, OHIO DOOR-LOCKING MECHANISM Application filed December 29, 1927.

My invention` relates to railway hopper cars and more particularly to means for moving the doors of such cars to closed position.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a railway hopper car door with a device having a portion for accommodating the foot of an operator to permit the applition of force to move the door to closed position.

A primary feature of the invention consists in providing a railway hopper car with mechanism for supporting a door in closed position and in associating therewith means carried by the door having a portion forfacl commodating the foot of an operator to which force may be applied for moving the door to closed position, the said portion being adj acent the locking mechanism and extending at an angle to the direction of swinging movement of the door.

A further feature of the invention resides in providing a hopper door with mechanism for supporting it in `closed position which involves a pivoted member mounted on the car body and a xed member carried by the door, the said fixed member having a portion projecting laterally outward beyond said piv- -oted member and extending in a direction forming an oblique angle with the direction of length of said fixed member for accommodating the foot of an operator to permit the application of force for moving the door to closed position.

A still further feature of the invention consists in constructing a door arm member with a flange having a relatively widened portion for accommodating the foot of an operator to permit the application of force to move the door to which the arm is secured to closed position, said portion extending in a direction forming an oblique angle with the d1- rection of swing of the door.

Other features of the invention residing 1n particular constructions and advantageous relations of parts will hereinafter appear and be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a Serial No. 243,244.

portion of a hopper car and door locking mechanism illustrating my invention as associated therewith.

Figure 2 is al front elevationalview ofthe construction shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3*?) of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a door arm showing my invention as applied thereto.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the door arm.

Figure 6 is a det-ail sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

The portion of the car hopper illustrated in the drawings is of the well known type which has a lading discharge opening closed by a hinged door. The side sheet of the hopper is indicated by the reference numeral 1, while 2 indicates the door, the latter being hinged to the car body as usual so as to swing to open position under the influence of gravity. The edge of the hopper discharge opening may advantageously be provided with a reinforcing member 3 affording a door seat 4 and a sealing flange 5.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for supporting the hinged door in closed position, the mechanism illustrated herein for this purpose involving a member 6 pivotally attached to the hopper side sheet by a rivet 7 and a door arm member 8 fixedly mounted on the door. The pivoted member 6 is preferably in the form of a hook having a plurality of ledges 9 and 10, respectively, the

.former cooperating with the flange 11 of the -opening is provided with a reinforcing member, such as the member'3, the hook 6 is preferably spaced outwardly from the side of the hopper by a filler member 12 having rivet receiving thimbles or lugs 13, 14 and 15, re-

spctively, which project inwardly from the filler toward the neighboring side sheet of the hopper.

Overlying the hook 6 is a bracket 16 secured to the filler 12 and side sheet 1 of the hopper by means of rivets 7, 17 and 18,

the rivet 7 being the pivot for the hook 6 addition to being secured to the hopper sidey sheet by rivets 7, 17 and 18, the fille'r member is also preferably secured thereto by the rivet 19.

The bracket may advantageously be fashioned with a pry bar fulcrum 21 projecting from the outer face thereof adapted to cooperate with a removable lever for actuating the door, as is well understood. An aperture 22 bordered by an outstanding marginal flange 23 may also be -provided in the bracket for permitting a bar to be inserted beneath the hook to pry it upwards to unlocked position, thereby releasing the door.

Secured to the outer face of the door adjacent the lower free edge thereof is a stiffening member or spreader 24 preferably in the form of a Z-bar having its inner or door contacting flange 25`extending upwardly and its outer flange 26 extending downwardly. The door stifi'ener may be secured to the door 2 by rivets 27 passing through the upper flange 25 of the Z-bar.

The door arm 8 extends between the door and lower flange 26 ofthe stiifener, being secured to the web 28 of the latter by rivets 29 and to the door plate by rivets 30. The door arm 8 may advantageously be fashioned as a casting lof reversed channel form, having a bent web 31 and flanges 11, 32, 33 and 34, respectively, projecting therefrom, the flanges 11 and 32 being at the outer end of the arm` and projecting upwardl from the web 31, and the flanges 33 an 34 being at the inner end of the arm s and projecting downwardly.

Due to the fact that hopper doors are extremely heavy and cumbersome, and are of necessity disposed in positions rendering it difficult to swing them into either partially or fully closed position, means is provided on the door having a portion for accommodating the foot of an operator to permit the application of force to readily swing the door to closed position. This foot receiving portion maybe advantageously and conveniently formed on the door arm but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to a construction in which this portion is so formed. In the present embodiment of the invention the flange 32 of the door arm, which when the arm is assembled with the door, exrtends in a direction forming an oblique angle with the hinge axis of the latter and with the direction of swinging movement of the door, is fashioned with a portion 35 for accommodating the foot of an operator. The portion 35 is relatively wider than the flange 32 to provide a bearing surface of substantial extent. The upper surface 36 of this porvtion is preferably inclined downwardly away from the general plane of the door and is provided with a plurality of ribs or projections 37 affording means reventing slippage of the operators foot. o that the foot of the operator will not interfere with the proper functioning of the pivoted hook 6, the portion 35 of the door arm is preferably disposed laterally outward beyond the hook.

As it is desirable in the interest of safety, in the case of hoppers having doors whose hinge axes are disposed transverse of the car for the operator to stand to one 'side of the door, it will be perceived that the foot accommodating portion by extending at an oblique an le to the hinge axis of the door is arrange substantially normal to the direction of the force naturally applied by the operator when standing alongside of the car. Furthermore, the top surface of this portion is inclined so as to lie in a plane also substantially normal to the direction of the closinv force applied to the door. By this means orces applied to the door causing it to swing to closed position are most effectively utilized and the desired result is accomplished by a minimum of effort.

I claim 1. In combination with a hopper car having a lading discharge opening, of a pivoted door for closing said opening adapted to swing to open position under the influence of gravity, mechanism for supporting the door in closed position, and means carrled bythe door having a portion for accommodating the foot of an 'operator to which force may be applied for moving the door to closed position, the said portion extending at an angle go the direction of swinging movement of the oor.

2. In combination with a hopper car having a lading discharge opening, of a pivoted door for closing said opening, the door being adapted to swingl to open position und r the iniuence of gravity, mechanism invol ing a movable member for supporting the door in closed position, and means carried by the door having a portion for accommodating the foot of an operator to which portion force may be applied for moving the door to closed position, the said portion being adjacent the said movable member and extending at an angle to the direction of swinging movement of the door.

3. In combination with a hopper car having a lading discharge opening, of a door for closing said opening adapted to swing to open position under the influence of gravity, mechanism for supporting the door in closed position, and means carried bythe door having ax portion projecting outwardly beyond an edge of the latter for accommodating the foot of an operator permittin the application of force for moving the oor to closed position, said portion extending at an oblique angle to the hinge axis of the door.

4. lln combination with a hopper car having a lading discharge opening, of a pivoted door for closing said opening, the door being movable to open position under the influence of gravity, and means for supporting said door in closed position involving a movable member and a lixed member, one of said members being carried by the door and the other by the car body, the member carried by the door having a portion extending at an angle to the direction of swinging movement of the latter foraccommodating the foot of an operator thereby affordingmeans to which force may be applied for moving the door to closed position, the upper surface of said portion being inclined downwardly away from the general plane of the door.

5. ln combination with a hopper car having a lading discharge opening, of a door for closing said opening, said door being adapted to move to open position under the influence of gravity, and mechanism for supporting the door in closed position invlolving a pivoted member mounted on the car body and a ixed member carried by the door, the said fixed member having a portion projecting laterally outward beyond said pivoted member and extending in a direction forming an oblique angle with the direction of length or' said member for accommodating the toot of an operator permitting the application of force for moving the door to closed position.

6. ln combination with a hopper car having a lading discharge opening, of a door for closing the opening, said door being adapted to move to open position under the induence of gravity, and mechanism for supporting the door in closed position involving a pivoted member mounted on the car body, and a door arm xedly secured to the door, the said arm beine' ashionedwith a portion extending at an oblique angle with the hinge axis of the door for accommodating the toot of an operator to which portion force may be applied tor moving the door to closed position, the upper surface of said portion being inclined downwardly away from the plane of the door.

Y. ln combination with a hopper car having a lading discharge opening, of a door for closing the opening, said door being adapted to swing to open position under the inuenceV of gravity, a pivoted member carried by the door, and an arm mounted on the door having a plurality of portions spaced in the direc-i tion of swing of the door, one of said portions being engageable with the movable member for maintaining the door in closed position and the other of saidA portions being fashioned to accommodate the foot of an operator permitting the application of force Jfor moving the door to closed position, said last named portion projecting laterally outward beyond the path of movement of said movable member.

8. ln combination with a hopper car having a lading discharge opening, of a door for closing said opening and being adapted to swing to open position under the induence of gravity, a pivotally mounted hook carried by the car body, and a door arm carried by the door, said arm having a plurality of flanges spaced in the direction of swinging movement of the door, one of said flanges being engageable with the hook for supporting the door in closed position and the other of said flanges being fashioned with a portion for accommodating the foot of an operator to permit the application of force for moving the 'door to closed position, said portion projecting laterally outward beyond the pivoted hook and extending at an angle to the hinge axis of the door. l

9. ln combination with a hopper car having a lading discharge opening, of a door for closing said opening andr being adapted to move to open position under the influence of gravity, a hook pivotally mounted on the car body, and a door arm ixedly secured to the door, said arm having a plurality of flanges spaced in the direction of swinging movement of the door, one of said flanges being engageable with the hook for supporting the door in closed position and the other of said Hanges being fashioned with a relatively widened downwardly inclined portion for accommodating the foot of an operator to permit the application of force to move the door to closed position, said portion projecting laterally outward beyond the pivoted hook.

10. A door arm member of the type adapted to be secured to the pivoted door oit a railway hopper oar for cooperating with a gravity actuated locking device mounted on the car body whereby the door may be maintained in closed position, said door arm having a portion which when the arm is secured in assembled relation with the door extends laterally outward beyond the said locking device for accommodating the foot or' an operator to permit the application of 'force to move the door to closed position, the said portion being disposed so as to extend at an angle to the direction of swinging movement of the door to which the said arm is secured.

ll. Ar door arm member of the type adapted to be secured to the pivoted door of a railway hopper car for cooperating with a gravity actuated locking device mounted on the car body whereby the door may be maintained in closed position, said door arm having a Harige fashioned with a relatively widened portion for accommodating the foot of an operator to permit the application of force to move the door to which the arm is secured to closed position, said portion extending in a direction forming an oblique angle with the direction of length of the arm.

` 12. A door arm member of the type adaptx ed to be secured to the pivoted door of a railway hopper car for cooperating with a gravity actuated locking device mounted on the car body whereby the door may be maintained in closed position, said arm being fashioned with a portion which when the arm is in assembled relation with respect to the door extends laterally outward beyond the said locking device for accommodating the foot of an operator to permit the application of force to move the door to closed position, the upper surface of said portion being ribbed and inclined downwardly away from the plane of the door to which the arm is secured.

In testimony whereof I aiix mysignature.

WILLIAM F. CREMEAN. 

